Yesterday, Invisible Children’s thirty minute video profiling the evil of Joseph Kony was all over Facebook, and while he’s definitely a terrible guy, Foreign Policy has a thoughtful and thorough blog post up today that discusses some of the issues with the campaign. First of all, Kony’s not actually in Uganda these days. Second, “Nodding disease” is a far more troubling issue facing Ugandan children these days. Third, there are serious questions about Invisible Children’s finances. Also, it’s unclear what buying a bracelet from Invisible Children will do, exactly:
What worries me more is that it’s unclear what exactly Invisible Children wants to do, other than raise a lot of money and attention. Here’s Russell in the video (21:40):
“We know what to do. Here it is, ready? In order for Kony to be arrested this year, the Ugandan military has to find him. In order to find him, they need the technology and training to track him in the vast jungle. That’s where the American advisors come in. But in order for the American advisors to be there, the American government has to deploy them. They’ve done that, but if the government doesn’t believe the people care about Kony, the mission will be cancelled. In order for the people to care, they have to know. And they will only know if Kony’s name is everywhere.”
So the goal is to make sure that President Obama doesn’t withdraw the advisors he deployed until Kony is captured or killed. That seems noble enough, except that there has been no mention by the government of withdrawing those forces — at least any I can find. Does anyone else have any evidence about this urgent threat of cancellation? One that justifies such a massive production campaign and surely lucrative donation drive?
Also, worth reading: Justice in Conflict’s discussion of the Kony issue, which questions whether the Ugandan government are really the “good guys” in this conflict, and whether we’re missing the point on what the terms “peace” and “justice” actually mean for the region.
Invisible Children has a site up responding to some of the criticisms, which is helpful and admirable, but it’s clear that the issues facing Uganda are more complicated than what can be solved by through slogans, t-shirts, and bracelets.
This article appears in Mar 8-14, 2012.
Of course there are going to be detractors. And of course there are going to be questions as to where the money goes. Has anyone asked the question what did these people have to go through to get to this point and at what cost? At least they did something. Of course Kony fled Uganda, he knew he was being closed in on. How long have you known about Kony and his treatment of children and what exactly have you done about it? If you have an alternative approach to achieve what they are pursuing then put it into place. Humanity cannot afford to continue with the same old same old behavior and if you don’t get that then you are not paying attention. Unfortunately too many of us have not been paying attention for too long. If we want a world for future generations that is healthy and vibrant then we had all better start looking in the mirror on a daily basis and ask ourselves what am I doing to ensure that.
The beginning of your article mentions some attacks on IC that have already been refuted.
IC has never claimed that wearing a t-shirt is all that is needed to end these conflicts.
It is an organization that is built on much more than simply wearing a t-shirt. They have built schools, they are helping to provide rehabilitation to former child soldiers, they have started sustainable businesses where families in Africa find employment, they are building radio towers to help warn villages in Africa that the LRA is in the area, they encourage lobbying of the US government to force them to take action against the corruption that is taking place.
That is all MUCH more than simply wearing a t-shrit. There is so much going on in this conflict. It was not all addressed in the new 30 minute video, but that video has helped to start a conversation – a conversation that needs to continue.
Invisible Children has not said that Kony is still in Uganda. They said that he has moved on from Uganda and that he is now terrorizing other countries.
Yes, nodding disease is serious. There are many serious problems in Uganda, and all across the world. Invisible Children is not claiming to try and solve every problem in the world. They are making good on their claim to help with one major problem – the problem of Joseph Kony and the LRA. It will not end all problems, but it is a great place to start.
Where is the money going? 30% goes to work with people on the ground, in Africa – that’s almost $3 million in one year – not a small amount.
The other 70% goes to sending people out on tours across the world to spread the message. It goes to making documentaries that help spread the message. If enough people hear the message and take action, then it will be much more difficult for the corruption that has been happening to continue. Governments will be forced to make better choices and end this war. THAT is where the majority of the money is going.
No-one who works for IC is getting rich. My friends who work their live on a pretty tight budget. This is not about fame and money – it is about ending a war.
About the whole “Kony Controversy” thing:
1) I’m not as concerned about the viability of the non-profit that started this movement as I am about the sense of empowerment it relays to the youth of this generation that feel as if they don’t have a voice or that they don’t count;
2) If it results in making ANY tyrant/warlord/dictator say, “Oh, crap…”, then I’m for it;
3) Right now, our world is screaming for Justice. If this project motivates people into action to help bring that about, then I say, “Godspeed, my friends!”
‘Nough said…